Godzilla Bites Back: Movie Studio Sues Over Honda Odyssey Commercial

We thought the “rock van” commercial for the 2011 Honda Odyssey was pretty bold. But it might have been too bold for Toho Co., the Japanese movie studio responsible for Godzilla flicks, who has sued the Japanese automaker for unlicensed usage of the monstrous lizard.

Godzilla is known for terrorizing cities and causing the human population to run and scream, and Toho is claiming the monster’s fire-spitting headshot wasn’t authorized for Honda’s consumption. In the commercial, a dark, reptilian head can be seen alongside rocker Judas Priest when the camera cuts to the rear entertainment system’s video flip-screen. Outside of the minivan, there’s no shortage of fiery explosions, or fire in general, because pyrotechnics and heavy metal apparently appeal to the male demographic that Honda is set on wooing.Toho filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles on February 2. A Honda spokesperson told Automotive News the company wouldn’t comment on the suit, but did say that the company hasn’t pulled the ad as of yet.

"We took a legal action because Godzilla was used without authorization in the Odyssey commercial,” said Junichi Tamaki, a Toho Co. spokesperson in Tokyo. “It is an infringement of copyright."We’ve included the commercial below, courtesy of Honda’s YouTube channel. What is purported to be Godzilla appears around the 15-second mark of the 30-second spot.

If that is undeniably Godzilla, does one of the world’s most famous monster heroes/villains lend credence to the Odyssey? Let us know your thoughts below.Source: Automotive News (Subscription required)

Dear Honda- You have just made over a million Judas Priest fans want to burn your dealers down to the ground by using Kick ass Heavy Metal to advertise a Wussyass Mini Van. Honda products are not METAL! Next time use music that suits your image, like Culture Club.

Orange fire, not a blue laser like beam, hard to say if this is a “REAL” Godzilla.
Could just be a fire breathing dinosaur such as a dragon, etc.
Now if AutoMax saw the color blue spooling up and down the spine plates, then a huge blue colored blast shooting out of the mouth, then AutoMax would say, hell yeah, that’s Godzilla bitches!!!
Till that day happens, the lizard in this film is as gay looking as the product they are trying to sell, pure crap!!!
Reminds me of the 1998 Godzilla, what a pure load of trash that was, let’s hope the new Godzilla movie sticks with the original, or Toho Co., won’t have to worry about copyright infringement, they’ll have to worry about how to breath after AutoMax shoves all of their heads straight up their candy asses then stumps a mud hole so deep Japan sinks into the pacific ocean never to be seen again!!!
Now give AutoMax a big Hell Yeah if you’re ready to watch Godzilla 2012!!! (mrgreen)

Honda adds would have us believe that the Accord is "the one", and their minivan is some of automotive breakthrough. Let he who burns Tokyo set his sights on the Honda HQ. They could use some excitement. Their vehicles don't have much.

While Honda should have researched possible licensing issues, you would think the studio would welcome some publicity for their big green star!! If it weren't for the Nissan GT-R I can't think of the last time the big green fellow with the high octane halitosis had been on anyone's radar !!!

Not a silly lawsuit if someone uses an image you have the rights too, without your permission, in an attempt to make themselves money. What would you think, Nick, if Preparation H used your headshot to sell hemorrhoid cream?

Terrible commercial. It reeks of "trying to hard to connect" to people who don't WANT a minivan but NEED one. I say sue the crap out of them - legit or not. Then they will learn to watch their Ps and Qs better for the next TERRIBLE commercial